- the formation of the NHS in 1948 and investment since 1997 which is guaranteeing prompt and effective health care for local people - the introduction of Child Benefit and then, under this Government, the increases in Child Benefit and the introduction of Child Tax Credits - the introduction of Pension Credit, winter fuel allowance and other benefits that have built on the base of the retirement pension and brought security to senior citizens - the commitment to prosperity, fighting unemployment and the introduction of a minimum wage - the commitment to a good education for all – demonstrated by the massive increase in investment in our schools and the much better results obtained by Reading’s pupils - the determination that people should have somewhere decent to live, setting minimum standards with huge investment in home insulation and the Decent Homes programme for council housing - the liberalisation of society, started in the 1960s and continued by this Government, with increased tolerance and respect for one another’s rights - putting into law, for the first time anywhere in the world, a commitment to carbon reduction to combat climate change - granting independence to India and Pakistan in 1947, starting the withdrawal from Empire, and this Government’s boost to international aid to meet the UN’s target - maintaining Britain’s standing in the world, as a key member of NATO, the UN Security Council, the European Union and the G20, promoting international co-operation in tackling the recession, climate change and other issues.

In a joint statement Mr Sarkar and Ms Dodds said: “These are very real achievements. While we are not saying no mistakes have been made, these achievements indicate that people across Britain, including in Reading, have benefitted greatly from the election of Labour gGovernments committed to their welfare.

“For Nick Clegg to try and spin all this as failure is frankly flippant and he should just take it back.”